REVIEW: ‘Skipping Christmas’—John Grisham

By MEGAN SENNETT, GB Youth Board

Published: December 18, 2003

The novel “Skipping Christmas” begins a few days after Thanksgiving, when Luther and Nora Krank, a middle-aged suburban couple, tearfully bid farewell to their only daughter Blair. She is fresh out of college and about to begin a stint with the Peace Corps in Peru teaching disadvantaged children how to read.

That night, Luther, a tax accountant, retreats to the basement to crunch numbers and comes up with the grand total that the Krank family spent last Christmas: $6,100! The fear of spending even more this year, coupled with the fact that this will be Luther and Nora’s first Christmas alone without Blair, leads Luther to concoct a plan to take Nora on a 10-day Caribbean cruise and leave the hustle and bustle of Christmas behind. No Christmas tree, no gifts, no huge party where piles of food are left uneaten, and certainly no giant rooftop Frosty the Snowman--nothing but sun, sand and relaxation in the Caribbean.

The reactions of the Kranks’ neighbors, friends and seemingly everyone in town, and then the Kranks’ reactions to their reactions, are very funny.

People try to bombard Luther and Nora with guilt and attempt to sell the Kranks ridiculously expensive Christmas trees, fruitcakes and calendars that all benefit some organization or another. When a group of carolers camps outside the Krank home shouting Christmas carols at the top of their lungs, Luther and Nora hide in a corner of the living room, away from any windows, with all the lights off, and act as if they’re not home. When Luther and Nora go to a small restaurant for lunch, they are confronted with a barrage of questions from people, some of whom they don’t even know, about why they’re skipping Christmas. On Hemlock Street, the Kranks’ is the only one out of 42 houses without a giant, lighted Frosty on the roof. The neighbors can’t accept the Kranks’ individuality and try in various ways, including placing “Free Frosty” signs on Luther and Nora’s front lawn, to persuade them to conform. However, like all Christmas tales, it has a happy, yet surprising, ending.

“Skipping Christmas” was first published in 2001 and was No. 1 on the USA Today Best-Selling Books List. Last year it climbed as high as No. 2. This year it is being reissued yet again, making it the most popular of John Grisham’s novels, with over 3.7 million copies in print, according to his publisher, Doubleday. It will also join other Grisham novels in being adapted for the big screen. The film, produced by Chris Columbus, who produced the first two Harry Potter movies, is scheduled for release next Thanksgiving.

Overall “Skipping Christmas” is a universal story to which everyone can relate. The 177-page novel is a gentle satire that has a good message about how the materialism and commercialism of the once sacred holiday frequently overshadow the true purposes of Christmas. This story reminds the reader that, although Christmas can turn into a chaotic hassle, running away from it is not the answer either. Christmas is meant to be a joyous occasion, celebrated in commemoration of Christ’s birth. This story, and its message, are perfect for the holiday season and leave the reader feeling lighthearted, content and hopeful. Although the subject matter is a little stale, this heartwarming story has good descriptions, dynamic characters, an important message, and is destined to become a holiday classic.

Megan Sennett is a sophomore at Chattahoochee High School and attends St. Brigid Church, Alpharetta.